Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa appointed Mark Winogrond as interim planning director, replacing longtime Planning Director Con Howe.

Howe, who held the job for 13 years, plans to launch a West Coast branch of the Urban Land Institute after stepping down on Sept. 16.

Winogrond, who has done planning work for San Francisco, West Hollywood and Culver City, will assist Villaraigosa in selecting a permanent replacement for Howe. He will also begin preparing a road map for the department, as Villaraigosa seeks to improve management and service to the public.

“Mark has extraordinary experience integrating planning, building, transportation, housing and economic development,” Villaraigosa said in a statement. “His top-to-bottom assessment of the department will ensure that a permanent director hits the ground running.”